If National wins ...

[winner69]

EZ, sound your mates out on the need to seduce potential voters to get them to hear your message

http://www.clickhole.com/video/relax...ill-show--2365

[elZorro]

EZ, sound your mates out on the need to seduce potential voters to get them to hear your message

http://www.clickhole.com/video/relax...ill-show--2365

Yes, very good, I get what you mean. Jacinda Adern could do that maybe?

Bill English didn't run interference on the Kiwisaver kickstart cancellation. An unpopular budget outcome.

http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/ditc...ay+8+June+2015

More on Generation Rent: Equabs book.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/mone...ay+8+June+2015

Rental situations in some of Auckland's houses.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=11461054

[elZorro]

I've been thinking about Rod Oram's article in the SST yesterday. This is bad news for the tax take in the next year or two, Bill.

http://www.pressreader.com/new-zeala...45541/TextView

An article of a couple of months ago shows that landlords on average have been slow to use the subsidised scheme to insulate houses.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA150...on-schemes.htm

On TV this morning, there's an item about landlords wanting more govt help to insulate their own housing stock, or presumably they won't do it. Of course, if they were living in those houses, they'd soon get it sorted if they could afford it, and most of them can. There are plenty of good landlords out there, but why do some landlords expect special treatment, especially when the big game plan happens at the end, a tax free capital gain on eventual sale? It's time this whole rental industry paid its own way and contributed to the economy of NZ as a whole, not just pandering to a privileged minority.

As it is, they can be subsidised by up to 90% of the costs in special circumstances.

IRD awards their massive coding contract to a USA firm, although some NZers will be employed. NZ firms effectively excluded from tendering.

http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/ird-...ay+9+June+2015

[BlackPeter]

Pretty appalling story on stuff: 1.34 billion dollars going every year into corporate welfare, and the lion's share of that (18%) goes to Kiwirail for ... doing nothing (well, apparently for keeping their network running).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...dailyheadlines

Now - I guess at face value the culprit here is National, since they are currently controlling the old boys clubs who are "picking the winners". Interesting question is, what would happen if the Left takes over? EZ, daytr and winner - what would be your party's strategy in case they would get a more dominant position at the trough? What would Labour / Green (and potentially NZ First) do different? Just favour different pigs to feed - or clean up the pigsty?

[Sgt Pepper]

Pretty appalling story on stuff: 1.34 billion dollars going every year into corporate welfare, and the lion's share of that (18%) goes to Kiwirail for ... doing nothing (well, apparently for keeping their network running).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...dailyheadlines

Now - I guess at face value the culprit here is National, since they are currently controlling the old boys clubs who are "picking the winners". Interesting question is, what would happen if the Left takes over? EZ, daytr and winner - what would be your party's strategy in case they would get a more dominant position at the trough? What would Labour / Green (and potentially NZ First) do different? Just favour different pigs to feed - or clean up the pigsty?

BP
one aspect of this is the type of government we have in power. make no mistake, this National Government has more in common with the Muldoon regime than any other. The principle objective , above all others is to remain in power. If that means misdirecting increasing amounts of taxpayers money so be it. If I was a large donor to the National party I would be increasingly questioning whether I am getting value for money, as I am certain many of the more thoughtful and intelligent ones are.

[blackcap]

Pretty appalling story on stuff: 1.34 billion dollars going every year into corporate welfare, and the lion's share of that (18%) goes to Kiwirail for ... doing nothing (well, apparently for keeping their network running).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...dailyheadlines

That is appalling. I think Kiwi Rail needs to fall over and if a competitor cannot be found to replace them so be it. Subsidising to that tune is immoral.

[Daytr]

Kiwi Rail is up against it in regards the huge amount of funding & support that goes toward transport companies in NZ. Rail has been in neglect for decades & if anything in my view there should be more investment in rail rather than the 10s of billions being spent on roads. Obviously both require funding, but at the moment its far too one sided imo. Getting more logging trucks off the road in regional NZ as an example, would not only help the efficiency of our transport routes it would also reduce substantially the amount we spend on maintenance. Living in Northland, if wanting to drive south to Auckland etc you basically have to allow an additional 30-60 mins for either road works which is usually maintenance or being stuck behind trucks. The hidden cost to all travelers be them business or recreational is never taken into account.

In regards other grants from National, one in particular comes to mind, where National offered TTR $25M of R&D for their iron ore seabed mining proposal, something that never made it through the EPA and was for all intensive purposes an Australian/Chinese company that would have added little value to NZ in regards jobs or revenue. This was a company that had access to $1Bln in funding!

EZ is on the money these sort of grants should either be for start ups or small business that has potential to be something more and add value to the domestic economy & imo also be targeting sustainable businesses & or that add a social or environmental value to the country. The solar industry is one I have highlighted on many occasions but similar to the transport companies, the power companies are Government favoured & protected. How much road tax funding could be used to get rail routes re introduced for instance or would also help with Auckland's ridiculous traffic situation.

BP, I would suggest Labour & the Greens have aspirations/policy that are far more aligned to this approach & NZF would be somewhere in the middle with an emphasis on added value & the likes of increase use of rail.

[winner69]

EZ, this is so true
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-stan...ong-for-labour

Do you do twitter things EZ? You would be appalled what your party members and faithful get up to on twitter. Quite amusing

[westerly]

EZ, this is so true
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-stan...ong-for-labour

Do you do twitter things EZ? You would be appalled what your party members and faithful get up to on twitter. Quite amusing

Interesting how the right leaning columnists are full of advice for the embattled Labour party.

westerly

[elZorro]

EZ, this is so true
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-stan...ong-for-labour

Do you do twitter things EZ? You would be appalled what your party members and faithful get up to on twitter. Quite amusing

No I don't tweet, W69, it does seem to be a big waste of time. I have enough trouble having a go on this forum.. Maybe I'm too verbose for the shorter messages anyway. I also get time to check the text and remove stupid or incorrect stuff before it goes out. Usually. I try to be like a modern day Barry Crump - however much I might swear in real life, it'll never be in print.

That Lehir guy is very right-wing. He's just stirring mate.